Sandra Bannerman, Glasgow MA Hons, PGCE Distinction and the school’s former depute head, has taken over the role previously held by John Owen. Ms Bannerman has worked at Beaconhurst since 2011 where she was Head of English before being promoted to depute head.

Tom Preston, Chairman of the school’s Board of Governors, said: “We are delighted to appoint Sandra Bannerman to lead the next phase of the development of the School. Ms Bannerman has been instrumental in the implementation of a range of enhancements to academic standards and the rounded offering we have at Beaconhurst. The leadership of John Owen has been a significant contributory factor in achieving our objectives over the last couple of years. Mr Owen is, however, leaving his post as Headteacher and the Board would like to thank John for all his hard work and contribution to the development of Beaconhurst during his tenure. After overseeing the development of a clear outdoor education pathway during his three years at Beaconhurst, Mr Owen has left to pursue other interests.”

Since being appointed depute head, Ms Bannerman’s focus has been on raising academic standards at the school which recently celebrated its best Higher results ever. She has concentrated on introducing new academic initiatives which helped secure Beaconhurst’s unprecedented 20% increase in Higher awards this August with a total of 93% of pupils gaining A-C grades. Ms Bannerman is keen to build on the school’s academic success and also plans to continue to develop an Expressive Arts pathway at Beaconhurst similar to that already in place for Sport.

She says: “I’m genuinely pleased and privileged to have been appointed as headteacher of Beaconhurst. I’m deeply committed to the values of our school and proud of our pupils and all they do both in and out of school. What I do want to do is continue to drive forward with the academic initiatives we launched last year and which led to the substantial improvement in our exam results. I am also looking at developing our Expressive Arts Department, building on the family ethos which is a big part of our school and working closely with the Parent Teacher Association.”

The Beaconhurst Alumni Association would like to pass on our thanks and best wishes to former Headmaster John Owen and his family for their contribution and support to the development of Beaconhurst School over the past three years.

Stirling Council has announced the appointment of Clive Wright as the third Makar for Stirling.

The Stirling Makar, or Poet Laureate, is a ceremonial position that dates back to the reign of James IV and reconnects the modern, contemporary Stirling with its rich literary heritage. Revived in 2009, with the appointment of Magi Gibson and then Anita Govan in 2012, Clive Wright will be the third Stirling Makar in recent times.

He will retain the post for three years, during which he will champion the importance of the written word in everyday life and will produce a poem each year that celebrates the Stirling area, its people and aspects of life within it.

Clive has lived in Stirling for over 30 years and has written extensively on the area and its rich heritage. A graduate in Languages from the Universities of Cambridge and Stirling he is currently a teacher, and his love of the written word has seen his poetry performed at the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling Smith Museum and Art Gallery and the Chapel Royal.

He said: “It is truly a great honour and privilege for me to be appointed Stirling’s Makar. Stirling is such a wonderful place to live and to write about - not only the city but also the local areas and villages that give it its unique buzz and character. My aim is to pass on my own passion for and to encourage others to take up the pen – makars all!”

The Makar will also work with Stirling Council’s civic office and the Culture, Libraries and Archives service to help deliver a programme of events, performances and workshops.

We were having a typical British Summer early June 1965. High winds and torrential rains. I had an interview for a post as speech and drama teacher at The Beacon School for Girls Bridge of Allan.

What does one wear? “Be yourself” my friends said. SO. I wore a mini shift dress, a grey and yellow cloak/cape a yellow straw bowler hat with a black band, black fishnet stockings and very high stilettos with crisis cross laces. I carried a very long black umbrella. The conductress told me where to get off the bus.I had no idea where the school was.

I entered a gate to the building called Meadow Park. There was a lovely elderly gentleman doing his best to repair something in the rain. Mr Carrigan? He directed me up a muddy hill which had turned into a muddy waterfall. My stilettos sunk right into it. I slipped and got covered in mud. My brolly got tangled in bushes and my bowler went skew-whiff.

Eventually, I reached the main building at the top. I mounted the steps to be greeted by the wonderful Molly Mitchell who was in charge of the office and just about every other bit of admin. She took one look at me and showed me the loo where I could clean up. I did my best, but my very long hair was everywhere so I tucked it under the hat. It was then I was informed that I should have walked round the road and there was an official entrance and drive without mud which I could have used.

There were two other candidates. Sitting there. Both wore suits. Not mini skirts. I noticed one had a pendant and the other pearls. Both wore sensible shoes!

But most of all they were CLEAN!

I was interviewed by the wonderful Miss Cameron. People told me she was very stern. As I walked in she stared at me as though I was an alien. Eventually, we discussed all sorts of things. I thought I had blown the whole thing. To my great shock and surprise, I was offered the job. I grew to love the school, the pupils, and to respect and admire Miss Cameron. She must have had a great deal of courage to open this school at the end of the First World War but what courage to employ ME I hope I did not let her down.

< Back to news

Battlefields Trip 2015

Battlefields Trip 2015

Just before Easter the First Battalion of the Beaconhurst Pals set off on a Mercat Tour to the First World War battlefields of Belgium and France. This wasn’t just a trip, but a whole educational experience led by the tour guides from the Edinburgh. The pupils were immersed in the era from the start right through to the end.

It was to be an emotional and fulfilling five days where we caught a glimpse into the horror and deprivation of war. It saw us visiting many of the sites which were not only important to Allied troops, but also with a local connection. S5 pupil Gavin Anderson had researched the final resting places of many of the Bridge of Allan fallen and it meant so much to all of us that we were able to pay our respects to them at the Menin gate. At Tyne Cott Cemetery we found a further three local men and it seemed fitting and poignant that it was there that we had our private remembrance ceremony and laid our wreath.

< Back to news

Paddington Bear Day

Paddington Bear Day

On Monday 27th April 2015, the Nursery & Junior School welcomed back to Beaconhurst, former pupil Paul King, writer, and director of Paddington the movie, and his wife, Eloise. It was an amazing experience listening to Paul’s fascinating talk about the process from script to screen. He had a captivated audience from beginning to end. He explained how it all started with his passion about the Paddington stories when he was younger and how this developed into this personal ambition of how to create a Paddington worthy of the “big screen”.

Paul shared lots of interesting details of film set creations, as well as stories of all the main actors. However, the most captivating story of all was the conception and creation of the fun-loving Paddington Bear; it was a long, meticulous process starting with sketch drawings to 3-dimensional designs; and finally, with a touch of magical modern technology, Paddington Bear the movie character was created. Paul engaged so easily and well with the children; there was lots of laughter and fun, with the children asking questions throughout.

Before he left, Paul was presented with one of our very own Beaconhurst teddies as a reminder of his visit to his former school and he also took time to speak to children individually and sign autographs. We would like to think Paul and Eloise, for spending time with us and we would also like to express how proud we are that Paul is a former pupil who has fulfilled his ambition. He is a worthy role model for all our children here at Beaconhurst.

< Back to news

Beaconhurst Alumni Choir

Beaconhurst Alumni Choir

On December 9th, a surprise group of 15 Beaconhurst Alumni members came together to perform at the annual christmas concert in Stirling, to honour retiring head of music, David Bain. The choir, under direction of BAA President Fraser Morrison, performed two songs - Shenendoah and Will Ye No Come Back Again?

It is hoped that the group will continue to meet and perform at more events in the future, and are always looking for more members!